Yes, this is our President speaking.
President Trump has threatened military action against Oman, a longtime U.S. ally and key diplomatic intermediary in the Middle East, if the Gulf nation interferes with Washington’s efforts to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
In an interview with Fox News on August 17, Trump was asked about Oman’s involvement in discussions with Iran over the future of the waterway. His response was blunt: “If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the shit out of them.”
The threat marks a dramatic escalation in tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of the world’s oil and gas shipments normally pass. The waterway has become a major flashpoint as the U.S.-Iran conflict and negotiations over a broader settlement remain deadlocked.
Oman has traditionally played an important role as a go-between for Washington and Tehran because of its diplomatic relationships with both countries. Iranian officials have said they reached an understanding with Oman concerning a new arrangement for shipping through the strait, while Washington has objected to aspects of the proposed agreement.
Trump’s warning came as a 60-day U.S.-Iran ceasefire and negotiating period expired without a comprehensive agreement. Iran has maintained that the Strait of Hormuz cannot fully reopen unless Washington lifts sanctions, unfreezes Iranian assets and halts military operations.
Trump, meanwhile, has insisted that reopening the waterway remains a major U.S. objective and has continued to demand that Iran abandon any effort to develop nuclear weapons.
The president’s comments have raised concerns about another expansion of the conflict. Oman is not a traditional U.S. adversary; it has long maintained security and diplomatic ties with Washington and has frequently served as a channel for sensitive U.S.-Iran communications.
The White House has defended Trump’s broader approach, arguing that he is willing to confront threats that previous administrations failed to resolve.
The threat has also triggered a political response in Washington. Sen. Tim Kaine and other lawmakers are preparing a War Powers Resolution aimed at restricting the president’s ability to launch military action against Oman without congressional authorization.
Meanwhile, uncertainty over the strait is already affecting energy markets. Oil prices climbed as hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough faded, with Brent crude rising above $91 a barrel on August 18.
With negotiations stalled, shipping disrupted and tensions escalating, Trump’s threat against Oman introduces a potentially dangerous new dimension to an already volatile Middle East conflict.